Pianoforte.



PATENTED PER, 27, 1906.

PATENTED P113127, 190s.

I J. w. GALLO-WAYQ PIANOFORTB. APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 8- 1905.

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911 i hwaoco UNITED STATES JOHN W. GALLOWAY, OF LINTON, INDIANA.

PIANOFORTE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed November 8,1905. Serial No. 286,362.

as sounding-board and bridge, of stringed musical instruments of the pianoforte type and the novel combination of these parts, whereby, .they mutually strengthen, brace, and sustain one another.

The object of the invention is the provision of a string-frame and cooperating parts com bined in such a manner as to wholly obviate the use of metallic bars, plates, or the like -and the fastening means cooperating therewith, as generally employed and which are objectionable because of the weight, the im pairment. of the tone, the liability to rattle due to loosening of the parts, the difliculty of keeping the instrument in tune for any great length of time, and the increased cost in the provision and the finishing of the metallic parts.

The invention comprises a string-frame having an opening of approximately circular outline, a sounding-board of a shape to fit within the said opening, a rim encircling the sounding-board and arranged between it and the wall of the string-frame and bordering upon the opening therein, and a continuous bridge, all of the parts being constructed solely of wood and the string-frame, rim, and bridge being composed of layers or veneers glued or otherwise firmly bonded by a cementitious material.

The invention consists of the novel struc tural features, details, and combinations of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a detail per spective view of a string-frame and adjunctive parts embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the stringframe stripped. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the reinforcing-rim. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the bridge. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the sounding-board. Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 90 0c of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The component parts of the string-frame, including the reinforcing-rim, the bridge, and the frame pro er, are formed of layers or veneers of woo arranged with their fibers at different angles and with said layers firmly glued and pressed together.

The stringframe 1 is provided with an opening 4, approximately of circular outline, whereas the outer configuration maybe of different shape, which in the present instance is approximately of rectangular form, with the exception of one side, as 2, which is of arch form. This frame is formed of a number of veneers or thin pieces of wood pressed closely together and glued and having the grain or fiber of each running in a different direction to the grain or fiber of the adjacent or other pieces, thereby resulting in the formation of a substantial structure which will sustain tension and resist climatic conditions.

The reinforcing-rim 3 is snugly fitted within the opening or circular space 4 of the frame 1 and is formed of long layers or strips of veneer bent into circular shape and glued together. This rim 3 when completed is forced by pressure into the string-frame 1 and glued therein, thereby forming a support for the string-frame, so as to make it almost impossible for the parts to yield when the strings are under tension andalso provides for obtaining a tone of pure quality and great volume.

The sounding-board 5 is of circular outline, and in this particular is best adapted to produce a clear tone and one having volume. The sounding-board is let into a rabbet 6 or may be glued, screwed, or otherwise fastened to the circle or rim 3, and is supported thereby and in turn braces said rim.

The bridge 7 is continuous, thereby preventing any break in the scale, which is common in pianos and like instruments in. which the bridge is not continuous or is interrupted or composed of sections, and as a result the tone is imperfect and of short duration. The continuous form of bridge illustrated favors the transmission of sound-vibration to the entire sounding-board, which becomes very sensitive to the vibrationsof the strings, resulting in a tone of increased volume and which is pure and of fine quality. The bridge,

like the string-frame and reinforcing circle or run, is continuous and may be formed of long layers or strips of veneer bent into shape and ICC glued together or constructed otherwise so as to make the same continuous. The bridge is of oblong form and is widened at one end and contracted and made rounding at opposite end, said bridge being glued or otherwise secured to the sounding-board. One side of the bridge, as 8, is straight, whereas the opposite side is indented and consists of the straight portion 9 and curved portion 10, the two parts 9 and 10 being outwardly diverged. The wider end 11 of the bridge is formed on the arc of a circle corresponding with the conducting circle or rim 3 and may rest upon the same or any part thereof, whereas the opposite end 12 is curved and connects corresponding ends of the parts 7 and 10.

Other bridges 13 and 14 are provided at diametrically opposite points of the string frame, and the hitch ends of the strings pass thereover in the usual manner.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the resultant structure formed by the parts when assembled and glued together, instead of being framed or mortised, is compact and provides a frame and resonator which is free from a single piece of metal and in which the parts are so positioned as to supplement each other in a manner that the solidity of the whole is maintained and the capacity to remain in tune is enhanced. The parts are so arranged as to admit of the treble and bass strings crossing the sounding-board at an angle to one another, about as indicated in Fig. 1, so as to exert a pulling force tending toward the center of the string-frame and to equalize the strain thereon Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments, having an approximately circular opening and a soundingboard of corresponding shape fitted in said opemng.

2. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments having an opening of approximately circular outline, a soundingboard arranged within said opening, and a rim encircling the sounding-board and filling the space between it and the wall of the said circular opening of the string-frame.

3. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments having an opening of approximately circular outline, a soundingboard arranged Within said opening, and a rim encircling the sounding-board and fillin the space between it and the wall of the said circular opening of the string-frame, said rim being firmly attached to both the soundingboard and string-frame.

1. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments having an opening of approximately circular outline, a soundingboard arranged within said opening, and a rim encircling the sounding-board and filling the space between it and the wall of the said circular opening of the string-frame, said rim being of wood and having a circular outline.

5. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments having an opening of approximately circular outline, a soundingboard arranged within said opening, and a rim encircling the sounding-board and filling the space between it and the Wall of the said circular opening of the string-frame, said rim being of wood and of a laminated structure, the layers being secured to one another and to the sounding-board and the string-frame.

6. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments provided with an opening of approximately circular outline adapted to receive a sounding-board, and strings extending across the opening of the stringframe and attached to the latter at opposite points.

7. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments having an opening of approximately circular outline, a soundingboard of corresponding shape to said opening and fitted therein and a continuous bridge attached to said sounding-board.

8. A string-frame for pianofortes and like musical instruments rovided with an opening of approximate y circular outline, a sounding-board of corresponding shape to the opening and fitted therein, and a rim snugly fitting within said opening of the string-frame and having its inner wall rabbeted to form a seat for reception of. the sounding-board, the three parts being firmly united or bonded.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN W. GALLOWAY.

Witnesses:

JEssE F. WEISMAN, WILLIAM R. CoLLINs. 

